Mr. Olympia 2026 crowns its champion on Saturday, September 26 at 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Finals Start Times
| Timezone | Saturday finals | Friday finals | Prejudging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 12:30 PM |
| Central | 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 11:30 AM |
| Mountain | 8:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 10:30 AM |
| Pacific (Vegas) | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 9:30 AM |
| Arizona | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 9:30 AM |
| Alaska | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 8:30 AM |
| Hawaii | 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 6:30 AM |
The Men’s Open concludes Saturday night, so the Sandow Trophy is awarded well after the 7:00 p.m. start time. East Coast spectators should expect to be up past 1:00 a.m. Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so it is on Pacific Time in September.
Full Weekend Schedule
All times are Las Vegas local (PT), with Eastern alongside.
Thursday, September 24
| PT | ET | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Dragon’s Lair Pop-Up Gym | Green St. at the Palms |
| 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM | Press Conference | Palms, Pearl Theater |
| 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM | Superstar Kickoff Party (VIP) | Palms Pool |
| 8:00 PM | 11:00 PM | Superstar Kickoff Party (public) | Palms Pool |
Formerly known as Meet the Olympians. Both events are open to the public, as is the temporary gymnasium. VIP entry to the press conference is at 11:30 a.m., and general entry at 11:45 a.m.
Friday, September 25
| PT | ET | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Dragon’s Lair Pop-Up Gym | Green St. at the Palms |
| 8:00 / 9:00 AM | 11:00 AM / 12:00 PM | Expo opens (VIP / public) | LVCC, South Hall |
| 9:30 AM | 12:30 PM | Prejudging | LVCC, South Hall |
| 3:00 PM sharp | 6:00 PM | VIP Sandow photo op (Gold VIP & Silver VIP Plus only) | Orleans Arena |
| 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Friday Finals | Orleans Arena |
Prejudging: 212, Classic Physique, Figure, Women’s Physique, Ms. Olympia, Wellness Finals: those same six divisions — plus Mr. Olympia prejudging
That last part matters. The Men’s Open is judged Friday night, not Saturday morning.
Saturday, September 26 — Finals Night
| PT | ET | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Dragon’s Lair Pop-Up Gym | Green St. at the Palms |
| 8:00 / 9:00 AM | 11:00 AM / 12:00 PM | Expo opens (VIP / public) | LVCC, South Hall |
| 9:30 AM | 12:30 PM | Prejudging | LVCC, South Hall |
| 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM | Sports Hall of Fame induction | Palms, Grand Ballroom |
| 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM | Saturday Finals — Mr. Olympia crowned | Orleans Arena |
| 11:00 PM | 2:00 AM | VIP After Party | Palms, Kaos Nightclub |
Prejudging: Men’s Physique, Fitness, Bikini, plus Wheelchair and Fit Model (both run prejudging and finals here). Finals: Fitness, Men’s Physique, Bikini, Mr. Olympia
This is the 15th induction ceremony into the International Sports Hall of Fame, and it is open to the public. The 2026 class consists of: Dexter Jackson, Garry Kasparov, Forrest Griffin, world freediving champion Vitomir Maričić, and the Harlem Globetrotters.
Sunday, September 27
| PT | ET | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | Champions Seminar | Palms, Grand Ballroom |
Earlier in the week
The Amateur Olympia runs Monday through Wednesday at the Palms.
| Day | PT | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 21 | 4:00 PM | Competitor registration |
| Tuesday 22 | 8:00 AM | Women’s judging |
| Tuesday 22 | TBD | Women’s finals |
| Wednesday 23 | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Dragon’s Lair Pop-Up Gym |
| Wednesday 23 | 8:00 AM | Men’s judging |
| Wednesday 23 | TBD | Men’s finals |
The trials and finals will be held at the Pearl Theatre and require admission; the temporary gym is open to the public. Finals times have not yet been announced. Pro cards will be awarded to the top three finishers in each division.
What Changed This Year
The Fitness Olympia final moved to Saturday night from the Friday card.
Venues
| Venue | What’s there | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Orleans Arena | Friday & Saturday finals | 4500 W Tropicana Ave |
| Las Vegas Convention Center | Expo and all prejudging | 3150 Paradise Rd, South Hall |
| Palms Casino Resort | Host hotel, press conference, seminar, parties | 4321 W Flamingo Rd |
On Fridays and Saturdays, there is a free shuttle service every 20 minutes, on a first-come, first-served basis. Both routes begin and end at the Palms; there is no direct service between the Convention Center and the Orleans Arena.
| Day | Route | Hours (PT) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | Palms ↔ LVCC | 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Friday | Palms ↔ Orleans | 4:00 PM – 11:30 PM |
| Saturday | Palms ↔ LVCC | 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Saturday | Palms ↔ Orleans | 4:30 PM – 11:30 PM |
FAQs
What time does Mr. Olympia 2026 start? 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 26. The Men’s Open closes the night.
What time is it on the East Coast? 10:00 PM ET. Expect the winner to be crowned after 1:00 AM ET.
What time is Mr. Olympia in Central Time? 9:00 PM CT Saturday.
When is Mr. Olympia prejudging? Friday, September 25, inside the 6:00 PM PT evening session — not the Friday morning block.
Where are the finals held? Orleans Arena, 4500 W Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas.
Can I watch a replay? Yes, replay access is included with the pay-per-view package.
Times are from the official Olympia schedule; organizers note they’re subject to change. Full event detail on our Schedule page.